mcleod



H. N. McLEOD.

CARBONIZING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 18, 1920.

1 91 IT 6 m Wm m M2 m P H. N McLEOD. CARBONIZING APPARATUS, APPLICATION FILED DEC-1B, 1920.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS.SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARBONIZING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 18, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hno'ron NonMeN Mcl'lnon, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 5 Bosworth Terrace, WVellington, New Zealand, have invented new and useful Improvements in Carbonizlng Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for the carbonizationand distillation of moist or dry carbonaceous materials such as peat, sawdust and the like. The apparatus is of the type wherein the material to be treated is continuously fed through a heated chamber or passage, the temperature of which gradually increases from a low temperature at the inlet end of the apparatus to a red heat or comparatively high temperature at the outlet end, while the distillates are led off from points in the chamber at certain desired temperatures. The material is carbonized as it approaches the end of the chamber, after which it is discharged into a receptacle. In the apparatus of the type above set forth as hitherto constructed, a considerable waste of heat occurs, and it is the object of the present invention to provide means whereby such waste is considerably reduced.

This object is obtained according to the present invention, by means of a construction and arrangement of apparatus in which the material is carried through a number of zones in which it is subjected to the progressive heating action and in which the ieat for heating the last zone or zones of the series is obtained from a suitable primary tion and working hereinbefore set forth.

A uitable form of apparatus is shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is expressly emphasized that it is not desired to limit the invention exclusively to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

Serial No. 431,730.

form shown, and that such form is shown more especially as illustrating the general In such drawings Figure 1 is a half elevation and half sectional elevation of the major portion of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the delivery portion of the apparatus connected to the righthand ends of the two lower chambers of the apparatus seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof, looking from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional elevation, taken at the break between the left and right-hand portions of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation looking from the right of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of an alter natlve construction of certain parts that will be hereinafter more fully referred to.

The construction shown provides for a series of four cylindrical chambers 8 being arranged horizontally parallel, one above the other, between suitable supports 9. These cylinders are arranged to connect with one another through conduits 10 so as to form a continuous zig zag passage through them all, in turn, from the top to the bottom, the top chamber being connected at one end to the corresponding end of the second chamber, the second chamber then at its other end being connected to the corresponding end of the third chamber, and so on throughout the series.

Each cylindrical chamber 8 is furnished with a spindle 11 mounted to extend centrally through its length and upon each spindle, a screw conveyer 12 is fixed. The several spindles project through the frame 9 at one end of the machine and are then geared together by gear wheels 13 (Figs. 1 and 3) which receive rotation through a gear wheel 14 ig. mounted upon a power shaft 15 receiving rotation-from any approved source. The direction of the rotation and. the arrangement of the gear wheels will provide for the several screw conveyors 12 rotating in such a manner as to feed material fed into the top chamber. through a hopper 16 provided for that pur pose, along the respective chambers in a continuous passage from one to the other, and finally out through an open end of the lowest chambers into a continuation 17 thereof (shown in Fig. 2) and finally through a discharge chute 18.

The method of heating the material as it is fed through this series of chambers shown in the drawings, provides for two distinct heat circulating systems, one a p 'imary heated system acting upon the two bottom chambers and the other a secondary system obtaining its heat from the waste or excess heat of the primary system and heating the two top chambers.

In each system or cycle, the spindles 11 are made hollow and are connected together at one end of the apparatus by a joint pipe 19 so connected as to permit of tlie iiree rotation of the respective spindles without breaking the joint. This manner of making the oints is of any oi the well known forms and requires no special description. In each system also the screw conveyors 12 ot both chambers are made with double walls, as shown, in order to form a continuous passage along ithin the conveyor from one end to the other. Or, if desired, )iPGS may be arrangec. to extent. around their surface. The end of the hollow spindle of the bottom chamber of each system, remote from its connection with that oi the one above it, is connected to the heat producing source and the corresponding end of the spindle in the chamber above is connected with a fan 21 or other draft producing apparatus. The two ends of the screw ccnveyer in each chamber are opened to the spindle upon which it is mounted as through apertures 22 (Fig. 1). Thus in each system the heat drawn into the system is caused to pass by means of the draft produced therein, along within the spindle and the conveyer or the lower chamber of such system and then up into and back along within the spindle and conveyer of the upper chamber cf such system.

The heat for the lower or primary system is obtained by heating air 1' vapor or stean within a superheater 23 (Fig. 5) or any known and approved design, which superheater is arranged within the circulating sphere of such system so that the heated medium passes continuously from the heater through the system and back to the heater again. If desired it may, after being through the system, be led first to one end of a jacket 2a upon the delivery extension 17 of the lower chamber, through the pipe 25, and then caused to traverse a helical course around within the jacket by means of battle plates suitably arranged, and then be led from the other end of the jacket space through the pipe 27 to the superheater. This will cause the medium to be giyen a preliminary heating so that when passed through the superheater it will be raised to a very high temperature, before being sent on to the heating circuit of this system through the connection 27 leading into the spindle thereof. This arrangement of heating means is very clearly shown in Figs. 2 and The heat for the upper system is obtained from the condensers used for condensing the distillates. Such condensers are of the air cooled type and the air used for cooling is thereby heated and is then drawn through the circulating sphere of such system by means or the fan 21 thereof. In Fig. 4: one form of condenser is shown in section. This is constructed of a jacketed zig zag chamber 28 into one end of which the distillates from the lowest chamber are led through conduits 29 leading oil from such chamber at different points in its length and through the jacket space 30 of which air is led from an inlet :31 in a reverse direction to the travel of the distillate vapors, to an outlet which is then connected with the inlet end of the ,ystem concerned. After passing through such system the air is led into the atmosphere.

In Figs. 6 and '7 a dii'ierent form of con denser apparatus is shown. In this the lower chamber is made with a goose nec outlet 38 extending all along its length out through which the distillate vapors pass, and which opens on to the upper end of an inclined tray 3st made of corrugated or grooved metal, over the top of which a jacket is fixer. The space between the tray and the jacket is divided into several divisions extending transversely with the tray and air is drawn into one end of each space and travels along above the surface of the tray and then into a cross division the other end from which the connection to the secondary heating system is led. This air in its passage over the tray condenses the vapors which then gravitate down the grooves in the trays surface into collecting pans 36 at the bottom, while the air which is thus heated in its passage, is carried through the system to perform its desired "function.

It will thus be seen that, as the material is fed through the apparatus, it w'll come under the influence of progressive heating zones acting thereon with a minimum of etiect at the commencement of the treatment, to the maximum at the end. By defining the said zones as in the construction shown, the material during its passage through the upper system will be gradually warmed to a fair temperature and will pass into the lower or primary heated system in a condition such as to be first completely dried and then, under the influence of the intense heat conditions prevailing in the lowest chamber, will be carbonized, the distillates in the form of hydrocarbons being driven off as vapor and collected by the means shown, and condensed, the carbonaceous matter then being discharged, The whole operation is therefore a continuous one from first to last.

If desired, and in'order to still further employ the waste heat from the primary heating system for the secondary system, the vapors given off in the heating of the materialin its passage through the upper part of such primary heated system, are collected by the conduits 37 leading at intervals from the top thereof and are led into a jacket space 38 surrounding the upper chamber of the secondary heated system. These vapors are thereby cooled and condensed by their contact with the cold surface of such chamber and are drained ofl through a drain pipe 39 leading from the lower part of one end of said space.

To still further employ waste heat from the primary heating system, the furnace flue of the superheater 23 is connected by the conduit 40 with the outlet end of the lower chamber of the secondary heated system and an exhaust fan 41 is fittedin the top of the upper chamber of such system at a point above the connection 10 with the lower chamber or at any other approved position. This fan will therefore draw the heat from the superheater flue along within the said chamber, in actual contact with and through the material being fed through such chamber.

The whole apparatus will be suitably covered with insulating materialto retain the heat within it, and may be built into an inclosing chamber of brickwork or the like.

It will be readily understood that the several details of construction involved in the apparatus shown in the drawings may be departed from in quite a number of ways without in any manner afiecting the main principles of constructionand operations. For instance the several chambers may be formed in one continuous line and the heating zones arranged in sections along such line. Also the heat of each zone may v be transmitted to the material within it, by

jackets surrounding such zones and hollow spindles for the conveyers thereof.

In Figs. 6 and 7 means are shown for permitting of the opening of the lower chamber to allow of any block or choking being cleared. These consist in forming the goose neck distillate outlet with an opening 42 along its top and in covering such opening with a hinged flap door 43, that when lifted will expose the inside of the chamber.

Such figures also show scraping means for keeping the surface of the screw con- 'veyer clear of any adhesion such means consisting in spring s raper knives 44E pivotally mounted on a longitudinal bar 15 above the conveyer and depending down in contact with the face of the conveyer. The pivotal mounting allows the blades to be lifted by the convolutions of the screw conveyer as they pass such blades, whereafter the blades fall again against succeeding convolutions as they advance.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation products from carbonaceous materials, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber leads into the receiving end of the next chamber in the series, said chambers being divided into two sets with separate heating circuits therefor, the heating circuit of the second set of chambers comprising a primary source of heated gas and conduits receiving such heated gas whose walls are in contact with the material in the chambers of the said second set, the direction of flow of the heated gas through said conduits being in countercurrent to the direction of passage, of the material through the chambers of the second set, condensing apparatus with connections leading from the last chamber of the second set adapted for receiving the products of distillation from said last chamber, jackets upon said condensing apparatus adapted to allow of the passage of a cooling medium for taking up heat from the products to be condensed, and conduits whose walls are in contact with the material in the chambers of the said first set of chambers, said conduits receiving the heated cooling medium from the jackets of the condensing apparatus and conveying it in countercurrent to the direction of movement of the material to be carbonized through such chambers of the first set, and conveying means adapted to propel the material to be carbonized continuously through the chambers of the first set and then through the chambers of the second'set.

2. Apparatus for ca-rbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation products from carbonaceous materials, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber leads into the receiving end of the next chamber in the series, said chambers being divided into two sets with separate heating circuits therefor, the heat ing circuit of the second set of chambers comprising a superheater adapted to provide a supply of highly heated gas, a closed circulation path for said gas including conduits whose walls are in contact with the material in the chambers of the said second set, the direction of flow of the heated gas through said conduits being in countercurrent to the direction of passage of the materials through the chambers of the second set, condensing apparatus with connect-ions leading from the last chamber of the second set adapted for receiving the products of distillation from said last chamber, ackets upon said condensing apparatus adapted to allow of the passage of a. cooling medium for taking up heat from the products to be condensed, and conduits whose walls are in 7 contact with the material in the chambers of the said first set of chambers, said conduits receiving the heated cooling medium from the jackets of the condensing apparatus and conveying it in countercurrent to the direction of movement of the material to be carbonized through such chambers of the firstvset, means for conveying the prod nets of combustion from the furnace of the superheater aforesaid through one of the chambers of the first set of chambers in a direction opposite to that of the travel of the material therethrough, and conveying means adapted to propel the material to be carbonized continuously through the chambers of the first set and then through the chambers of the second set.

3. Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation products from carbonaceous materials, said apparatus comprising a pluralityof chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber leads into the receiving end of the next chamber in the series, said chambers being divided into two sets with separate heating circuits therefor, the heating circuit of the second set of chambers comprising a primary source oi heated gas and conduits receiving such heated gas whose walls are in contact with the material in the chambers of the said second set, the direction of flow of the heated gas through said conduits being in countercurrent to the direction of passage of the material through the chambers of the second set, condensing apparatus with connections leading fromthe last chamber of the second set adapted for receiving the products of distillation from said last chamber, jackets upon said condensing ap paratus adapted to allow of the passage of a cooling medium for taking up heat from the products to be condensed, and conduits whose walls are in contact with the material in the chambers of the said first set of chambers, said conduits receiving the heated cooling medium from the jackets of the condensing apparatus and conveying it in countercurrent to the direction of movement of the material to be carbonized through such chambers of the first set, a jacket around the preliminary heating portion of the chambers of the first set, means for conveying to said jacket vapor given oii from the material in its passage through the early portion of the second set of chambers, and conveying means adapted to propel the material to be carbonized continuously through the chambers of the first set and then through the chambers of the second set.

4. Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation products from carbonaceous materials, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber leads into the receiving end of the next chamber in the series, said chambers being divided into two sets with separate heating circuits therefor, the heat ing circuit of the second set of chambers comprising hollow spindles passing through said chambers and carrying screw conveyers, means of connection between one end of the hollow spindle of the last chamber and the hollow spindle of the preceding chamber in the second set of chambers, a superheater and connections between the same and said hollow spindles adapted to provide a circulation path for the gas heated by said superheater, condensing apparatus with connections leading from the last chamber of the second set adapted for receiving the proclucts of distillation from said last chamber, jackets upon said condensing apparatus adapted to allow of the passage of a cooling medium for taking up heat from. the products to be condensed, hollow spindles with screw conveying means thereon passing through the chambers of the first se means for conducting through said last mentioned hollow spindles in series the heated 9 cooling medium from the jackets of the condensing apparatus, and means for rotating said hollow spindles with the screw'conveyers thereon whereby material to be carbonized is continually moved forward through the series of chambers.

Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation proclucts from carbonaceous materials, comprisa plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber communicates with the receiving end of the next in the series, means for propelling carbonaceous material through all of said chambers in series from the first to the last and for discharging the carbonized product from the last chamber of the series, a source or" highly heated gas, means for conveying such gas in a circuit, in countercurrent to the movement of the material to be carbonized, through inclosed passages through the later chambers of the series, jacketed condensing apparatus with passageways connecting the interior thereof to the last chamber of the series such that the gases and vapors'evolved from the material undergoing carbonization in said last chamber of the series are delivered to said condensing apparatus, means for conveying a cooling fluid from the jackets of said condensing apparatus, wherein it takes up heat from the condensing products, in countercurrent to the movement of the material to be carbonized, through inclosed passages through the earlier chambers of the series, a jacket upon the first chamber of the series, and means for conveying water vapor evolved from the material in intermediate chambers of the series to the jacket of said first chamber whereby such water vapor is utilized for the preliminary heating of the material to be carbonized in its passage through said first chamber of the series.

6. Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation products from carbonaceous materials, comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber communicates with the receiving end of the next in the series, means for propelling carbonaceous material through all of said chambers in series from the first to the last and for discharging the carbonized product from the last chamber ot the series, a superheater having passageways for receiving and delivering a gaseous medium adapted to take up and to carry the heat means for conveying a cooling fluid from the jackets of said condensing apparatus, wherein it takes up heat from the condensing products, in countercurrent to the movement of the material to be carbonized, through inclosed passages through the earlier chambers of the series, a jacket upon the first'chamber' of the series, and means for conveying water vapor evolved from the material in intermediate chambers of the series to the jacket of said first chamber whereby such water vapor is utilized for the preliminary heating of the material to be carbonized in its passage through said first chamber of the series.

7. Apparatus 'for carbonization and for v the recovery of valuable distillation proclnote from carbonaceous materials, comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the dlscharge end otone chamber communicates with the receiving end of the next in the series, means for propelling carbonaceous material through all of said chambers in series from the first to the last and for discharging the carbonized product from the last chamberof the series, said propelling means comprising revoluble hollow screw conveyerspassing through said chambers, means for driving saidscrew conveyers, means of communication between the interior of the hollow screw conveyers of the earlier chambers of the series, separate means of communication between the interior of the hollow screw conveyers of the later chambers of the series, a source of highly heated gas, passageways for conveymg the hightly heated gas from said source into and back from the interconnected screw conveyors of the later chambers of the series and through said source, jacketed condensing apparatus with passageways connecting the interior thereof to the last chamber of the series such that the gases and vapors evolved from the material undergoing carbonization in said last chamber of the series are delivered to said condensing apparatus, means for conveying a heated cooling medium from the ackets of said condensing apparatus into and out from the hollow screw conveyers of the earlier chambers of the series, a jacket upon the first chamber of the series, and means for conveying water vapor evolved from the material in intermediate chambers of the series to the jacket of said first chamber whereby such water vapor is utilized for the preliminary heating of the material to be carbonized in its passage through said first chamber of the series.

8. Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation products from carbonaceous materials, comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber communicates with the receiving end of the next in the series, means for propelling carbonaceous material through all of said chambers in series from the first to the last and for discharging the carbonized product from the last chamber of the series,

superheater having passageways for receiving and delivering a gaseous medium adapted to take up and to carry the heat imparted thereto in said superheater, means for conveying such gaseous medium in a circuit, in countercurrent to the movement of the material to be carbonized, through inclosed passages through the later chambers of the series, jacketed condensing apparatus with passageways connecting the interior thereof to the last. chamber of the series such that the gases and vapors evolved a from the material undergoing carbonization in said last chamber of the series are delivered to said condensing apparatus, means for conveying' a cooling fluid from the jackets of said condensing apparatus, wherein it takes up heat from the condensing products, in countercurrent to the movement of the material to be carbonized, through inclosed passages through the earlier cham bers of the series, and means for conveying flue gases from said superheater through a portion of the path for travel of the material to be carbonized in the earlier chambers of the series.

9. Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation products from carbonaceous materials, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber leads into the receiving end of the next chamber in the series, a screw conveyer in each chamb ,1, each screw conveyer being hollow and being mounted on a hollow spindle with which the interior of the hollow conveyer communicates, means connecting the hollow spindles of the conveyers in the chambers of the series through which the material first passes, means connecting the hollow spindles of the conveyers in the chambers of the series through which the material last passes before its discharge, a plurality of condensers. conduits connecting said condensers to different points in the length of the last chamber of the series, each condenser having a jacket through which a cooling medium can pass, a heater adapted to deliver a highly heated gas to the hollow spindle of the last chamber of the series, and through the connecting means aforesaid to the spindle of the preceding chamber of the series, and a conduit adapted to deliver the heated cooling medium from the jackets of the condensers aforesaid to the connected hollow spindles of the first chambers of the series.

10. Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation pr ducts from carbonaceous materials, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber leads into the receiving end of the next chamber in the series, a screw conveyer in' each chamber, each screw conveyer being hollow and being mounted on a hollow spindle with which the interior of the hollow conveyer communicates, means connecting the hollow spindles of the conveyers in the chambers of the series through which the material first passes, means connecting the hollow spindles of the conveyers in the chambers of the series through which the material last passes before its discharge, a plurality of condensers, conduits connecting said condensers to different points in the length of the last chamber of the series, each condenser having a jacket through which a cooling medium can pass, a heater adapted to deliver a highly heated gas tothe hollow spindle of the last chamber of the series and through the connecting means aforesaid to the spindle of the preceding chamber of the series, a conduit adapted to deliver the heated cooling medium from the jackets of the condensers aforesaid to the connected hollow spindles of the first chambers of the series, a jacket around the first chamber, and

conduits connecting the top of the penultimate chamber in the series with said acket whereby hot vapors from said penultimate chamber are conveyed to said jacket.

11. Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation prodnote from carbonaceous materials, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in a series such that the discharge end of one chamber leads into the receiving end of the next chamber in the series, a screw conveyor in each chamber, each screw conveyor being hollow and being mounted on a hollow spindle with which the interior of the hollow conveyer communicates, means connecting the hollow spindles of the conveyers in the chambers of the series through which the material first passes, means connecting the hollow spindles of the conveyers in the chambers of the series through which the material last passes before its discharge, a plurality of condensers, conduits connecting said condensers to different points in the length of the last chamber of the series, each condenser having a jacket through which a cooling medium can pass, a heater adapted to deliver a highly heated gas to the hollow spindle of the last chamber of the series and through the connecting means aforesaid to the spindle of the preceding chamber of the series, a conduit adapted to deliver the heated cooling medium from the jackets of the condensers aforesaid to the connected hollow spindles of the first chambers of the series, means for feeding material to be carbonized'to the first chamberof the series, a receiving appa ratus for the carbonized material delivered from the last chamber of the series, passages such combustion products from the chamher at the end through which the material to he carbonized enters the same.

12. Apparatus for carbonization and for the recovery of valuable distillation products from carbonaceous materials, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in series such that the discharge end of one chamber leads into the receiving end of the next chamber in the series, means for propelling material successively through said chambers, interconnected conduits for conveying a heating fluid along the earlier chambers of the series in countercurrent to the direction of movement of the material therethrough, interconnected conduits for conveying a heating fluid along the later chambers of the series in countercurrent to the direction of movement of the material to be carbonized through said later chambers, a plurality of condensers, conduits connecting said condensers to difierent points in the length of the last chamber of the series, each condenser having a jacket through which a cooling medium can pass, a heater adapted to deliver a highly heated gas to the conduit of the last chamber of the series whence it can flow through the connected conduit of the preceding chamber of the series, a conduit adapted to deliver the heated cooling medium from the jackets of the condensers aforesaid to the connected conduits of the earlier chambers of the series, means for feeding material to be carbonized to the first chamber of the series, a receiving apparatus for the carbonized material deliv ered from the last chamber of the series, said receiving apparatus having a jacket, means connecting said jacket to the outflow end of the conduit of the chamber through which the gas from the heater last passes, and means for connecting said jacket to the inflow end of the said heater, whereby a circuit is provided for the highly heated gas from said heater, said circuit including the interconnected conduits of the later chambers of the series receiving such highly heated gas, and the jacket of said receiving apparatus wherein said gas, after giving up a large part of its heat to the material to be carbonized, may be reheated by heat derived from the delivered carbonized material before the return of said gas to the heater for redelivery as highly heated gas to the conduit of the last chamber of the series.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

HECTOR NORMAN MoLEOD. 

